And the flip side is the acquisition of one of the pro game’s true stars, who is only 26 years old, and pairing him with the equally stellar Amare Stoudemire as the team tries to make its first playoff appearance since 2004 and win its first NBA title since 1973.

“There aren’t that many superstars in the NBA, and if you can get one, you do,” said Tottenville HS varsity boys’ basketball coach John Woodman. “Anthony is probably one of the top five players in the game. And you know the Knicks aren’t doing it try and sell tickets. They sell out every game because New Yorkers love the game.”

“Anthony is a playmaker, superstar, and he’s nearly impossible to cover,” agreed West Brighton resident James Warren. “This moves makes the Knicks immediate contenders, because that’s what two stars on one team will do in the NBA.

“I do have two problems with the trade though. (Danilo) Gallinari is going to be awfully hard to replace, and if (general manager) Donnie Walsh doesn’t have his stamp on this, they may lose (Walsh). He’s the one that built the team from scratch.”

Indeed, Walsh has been rightly credited with cleaning the toxic mess which occurred on the watch of former GM and coach Isiah Thomas. Walsh’s moves got the team under the salary cap and put it in position to sign Stoudemire and woo Anthony. There was some suffering in the first two seasons, but this year the franchise seemed to turn a corner.

“I’ve always been a fan, but it’s really hard when your team is horrible,” said Todt Hill resident Bill Ruppert Jr. “That’s been the case for the last six or seven years. I’ve probably watched them more this year than ever, because they are playing well.

“The addition of Anthony can only help. Sure, we gave up a lot, but that’s what it takes to get one of the best forwards in the game.”

“Basketball is the only sport where having two superstars on one team makes a huge difference,” said Mike Cortes of Westerleigh. “It was tough losing Gallinari, and insiders say Anthony doesn’t play defense — but seriously no one plays ‘D’ in the NBA.

“Now, all they need to do is pick up Donnie Walsh’s extension on his contract.”

“The only real upgrade I can see is Anthony, and I think they hurt their future,” suggested Andy Castro of St. George. “Sure, you have a superstar, but guys like Gallinari were the future.

Billups is a terrific player, but I don’t think he is going to hang around very long. In the short run it looks good, but down the road you now have to replace a whole group of good young players that were making terrific progress.”

“The Knicks are not that good to begin with, and I believe they have traded away the future,” said Silver Lake resident Carrie Gaeta. “The Garden is sold out every game, so what is the rush to improve?

“Between the young players they traded away — and the draft picks — they gave away the future. Sure, Anthony is a terrific player, but it takes five players to win a championship.